Whereas drum legends like Art Blakey, Gene Krupa, and Buddy Rich are known for their stunning solos, veteran Chico Hamilton is just the opposite--he is known for his subtlety, propelling an ensemble in a modest yet noteworthy manner. TWELVE TONES OF LOVE is something of a departure for Hamilton (and most jazz discs in general) as it consists of 18 short, super-concise tracks. Hamilton and company make every note count as they effortlessly dart in and out of an assortment of styles. Among the TONES explored are hard bop, cool, Latin, fusion, and free. With a crew of younger cats and old friends, the musicianship is, as usual, excellent.
Publisher:
Joyous Shout
Review:
JazzTimes (p.60) - "Like Hamilton's best work, these 18 tracks are concerned with setting a scene that pulls in listeners."